Marry me, Rowan!
1182 Words
ROWAN POV
"Nana" I said with a low voice, my eyes pinned on the pile of food on the plate before me, "I am a grown man now. I'm 24 already"
My grandmother hissed, "Of course, I know that you're an adult, but you still give me reasons to worry. Look at the negative image you have on the media. When will you ever understand that you are a public figure?"
I looked up from my plate and met my mother's eyes on me. She was seated next to Nana, my grandmother, munching on a piece of chicken which was stuck to her fork.
I pleaded with her, using my eyes.
She leaned back in her seat, and placed a palm on Nana's shoulder, rubbing it in circles.
"Nana, he's right. He's old enough to lead himself now. He's already heading one of the companies, that's a good sign"
Nana rolled her eyes. "You spoil Rowan way too much. At 24, he's supposed to married. How does he expect to pass on the wealth if he doesn't even have a child. I had you when I was barely his age, Katrina"
My mother shifted with discomfort in her seat. "I spoke to Rowan last night, he has decided to get back with Sasha, his ex"
My mouth dropped open in shock.
What was my mother trying to do? Hook me up with the same woman I escaped from?
Nana frowned, looking at me, "Whatever! I don't care who he settles down with. All I ask is that he gets married as soon as possible to someone he truly loves and—"
"I don't even love anyone right now!" I cut in, slamming my fork on the plate.
"Rowan Cardel Counting!" Nana said, rising from her seat..
I held my breath.
She only called me by my full name when she was very upset.
"Rowan Cardel Counting" She repeated.
"Nana?"
"You have forced me to reconsider my decision of putting you in charge of the family's conglomerate"
I c****d my head and threw her a sideways glance.
My mother stood up, and placed her arm around Nana's shoulders, supporting her.
Tension hung low in the air.
Nana shut her eyes, and raked her long fingers through her grey hair. Her body vibrated as though she was about to fall, but my mother held on to her firmly.
"Three weeks." She coughed, pausing to eye me. "You have only three weeks to bring home a bride"
"Mother, he will get back with Sasha" My mother's lips curved with satisfaction as she spoke.
I felt a muscle twitch in my jaw. My mother was beginning to unnerve me.
Despite how Sasha had cheated on me, breaking my trust, my mother still insisted that I should make it up with her, all because Sasha's family was closely tied to ours.
"I will not get back with that w***e" I muttered under by breath.
"Bring home a bride.” Nana said, “Someone you truly love and have my blessings. Or, I'll take away your rights over the company you are currently heading and I will make sure I give away the family's assets to charity"
My mouth was set in a hard line.
This wasn't Nana's first time of throwing such threats at me, but it was definitely her first time of giving me a timeline.
"Three weeks?" I asked, confused.
Nana bobbed her head as my mother led her away to her room.
As soon as Nana and mother disappeared into the room, I shot up from my seat, pushing it backwards as I stalked out of the house.
Another family breakfast had been ruined!
I fumed under my breath as I got into my car.
Killian was seated at the driver's seat. He eyed me as I got into the passenger's seat and struggled to strap on the seatbelt.
"How did it go?" He asked switching on the ignition of the car.
"What did you expect? This is why I sorely hate showing up for family breakfasts and dinners. It always ends up in a lecture on why I should be married"
Killian chuckled, "So, I guess it isn't any different, huh?"
I let out a harsh breath, my eyes on the road. "Today's breakfast was different." I said, crossing my arms on my chest, "Nana has given me three weeks to fall in love with a woman and bring her home"
Killian smiled, turning the steering wheels, "You don't mean that. Do you?"
I huffed, "I wish I was lying. How the hell I'm I expected to find the love of my life in three weeks?"
"Who says she should be the love of your life?" Killian asked, looking straight ahead as he drove.
I was silent.
He drove for a few miles before he cleared his throat noisily and said, "Your Nana needs you to bring home a woman before she gives you the inheritance."
I arched an eyebrow, "Does that sound new to you?" My voice was laced with irritation.
Killian ignored my tone and continued his speech. "Why don't you sign a secret contract marriage with any interested woman and dissolve it after you get the conglomerate and assets within your control?"
I considered his words for some moments and snapped my finger.
"Yes! Nana and mother don't have to know that it's not a real marriage"
Killian grinned. "Will you?"
I leaned back in my seat, my lips curved into a smile. I knew exactly what to do.
Within a short while, Killian had pulled the car into the driveway of my apartment.
We got out together.
"The doctor called while you were at breakfast with your family" He said, shutting the car door.
I stiffened. "Is anything wrong?"
"No" Killian smiled, "The stranger you almost killed two days ago is finally awake and—"
I didn't wait for him to complete his statement before I skipped around the car and bounded into the house.
Within minutes, I was at the door of my room—the same room where the strange woman had slept while she was unconscious.
I pushed the door open and walked in.
The strange lady was on seated up on the bed. A bandage was wrapped around her forehead and her arm was slung in a cast.
"Rowan Cardel?" She said as I stepped into the room.
Her voice was shrill and thin. Somehow, it tingled my ears.
“You are awake” I remarked dryly.
She nodded.
"Look, I am sorry I bashed into your car. I will get you another, just don't breath a word about this entire incidence to anyone."
I slumped into the chair by the window and blew out my cheeks.
"If you don't want the public to know how you almost killed me, then, marry me" She said.
I sat up in my seat. Did I hear her correctly?
Her eyes had red patches underneath them and her lips were thin and cracked as s
he cleared her throat noisily.
"Marry me, Rowan Cardel" She repeated.
- Writer
